Tiger Woods announced on his website Friday night that he will sit out next week’s Masters, marking the second time he has skipped the year’s first major golf championship in the last three years.
Once again, the four-time Masters champion attributed his decision to health concerns.
“After assessing the present condition of my back, and consulting with my medical team, I’ve decided it’s prudent to miss this year’s Masters,” Woods said on his website.
“I’ve been hitting balls and training daily, but I’m not physically ready. I’ve said all along that this time I need to be cautious and do what’s best for my long-term health and career. Unfortunately, playing Augusta next week wouldn’t be the right decision. I’m absolutely making progress, and I’m really happy with how far I’ve come, but I still have no timetable to return to competitive golf.”
Woods, who turned 40 in December, has been out of competition since tying for 10th place at the Wyndham Championship in August. He complained about pain in his hip that week, but a subsequent trip to see his surgeon, Dr. Charles Rich, in Utah determined the pain stemmed from the same spot in his back where he had a microdiscectomy performed in March 2014. Woods underwent a second microdiscectomy in September, then endured a second back surgery a month later.
Read more by Nick Eilerson in the Washington Post
